Fish toxins blamed for deaths of river's last remaining sea eagles

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The only sea eagles nesting on the Parramatta River have both been found dead, possibly after consuming fish contaminated with deadly toxins.

The environmental disaster could not have come at a worse time. It is believed the pair were incubating eggs in their newly constructed nest near the Silverwater Bridge.

Although they live in one of the nation's most heavily contaminated environments, last year the birds, which were only in their second breeding season together, managed to fledge their first chick. They had appeared to be in good health and because they both died at the same time it is unlikely to have been the result of long-term exposure to pollution.

Sea eagles are among the biggest predators in Sydney and a popular attraction at Olympic Park. But their territory takes in a part of the estuary considered so poisoned that fishing is illegal.

According to a ranger at Sydney Olympic Park, Judy Harrington, when she carried out her daily check on the sea eagles on Saturday they appeared fine. However, when she returned on Sunday morning the female raptor, while still sitting on the eggs, was slumped over.

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Ornithologist Phil Straw was asked to confirm that the bird was dead and then a decision was made to try and collect her eggs. It was hoped that they may have been artificially incubated and the chicks saved. But when the team tried to remove the bird the nest flipped into the river and the eggs could not be found.

Yesterday morning a cyclist found the male eagle's body washed up on rocks beside the Parramatta River. Both birds have now been sent to Taronga Zoo for a full post-mortem that will include toxicology, microbiology and blood tests.

"Because both birds have died at the same time it is most likely that it is a one-off contamination," said Ms Harrington, who has recorded their behaviour and diet since their arrival on the Parramatta River. "They looked healthy, they weren't emaciated and they have been feeding every day. Their crops were full."

According to Mr Straw, eight white-bellied sea eagles have died on that stretch of the river since 1991, when two were found dead trapped in pitch oozing from a rubbish tip. In 1992 a second pair were found dead at the base of a mangrove tree. Another sea eagle died in 1994 and a sixth in 2001.